Means for automatically preventing leakage of liquids from closed containers which suddenly spring a leak

ABSTRACT

1,086,479. Reducing loss of liquid from a closed vessel having a small leak. WACKERCHEMIE G.m.b.H. Nov. 25, 1965 [Nov. 27, 1964], No. 50159/65. Heading E1T.  A method of preventing a liquid from running out of a closed vessel 1 that has developed a small leak comprises an air duct 3 leading from the top of the vessel to a reservoir disposed there-below. The vessel is also provided with a pressure gauge 7 to indicate the fact that a leak has developed, on filling duct 6 and on outlet pipe 4 having a check valve 5.

Oct. 21, 1969 H. P. SCHMITZ 3,473,552

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF LIQUIDS FROM CLOSED CONTAINERS WHICH SUDDENLY SPRING A LEAK FilEd NOV. 26, 1965 INVENTOR HILGEE PETER SCHMITZ BY 8 v QTTORNE? United States Patent 3,473,552 MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING LEAKAGE 0F LIQUIDS FROM CLOSED CON- TAINERS WHICH SUDDENLY SPRING A LEAK Hilger Peter Schmitz, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, as-

signor to Wacker-Chemie G.m.b.H., Munich, Bavaria, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,967 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 27, 1964,

Int. Cl. B6sd 87/32 lU.S. Cl. 137312 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention provides, in combination with a closed container adapted to contain a liquid and having a filling opening at the top, a vacuum-tight closure for the filling opening, and a discharge conduit which extends down inside said container to a point near the bottom thereof, of a receptacle beneath said container adapted to catch any liquid which leaks out of said container, and a pipe for the passage of air to and from said container extending from inside the top of said container down to a point just above the deepest part of said receptacle.

This invention relates to the safe storage of liquids in closed containers, and it has for its object to automatically stop the leakage of liquids from such containers which suddenly spring a leak.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for accomplishing the foregoing purpose, which can be applied not only to newly constructed liquid containers but also to those already in use.

It is well known that leakage of the walls of containers has been overcome or controlled by the use of double walls. Further, catching vessels for liquids seeping from leaky containers have been described, for example concrete troughs or bowls of synthetic material, which are usually of such size that they can hold the entire contents of the containers. Methods have also been published by means of which a vacuum is formed by pumping which prevents a flowing out of liquids from containers which have sprung a leak. In addition, apparatus are known which indicate when a container leaks and which by means of certain attachments, for instance pumps, produce a vacuum in the empty space of the storage container in order to prevent further running oft" of liquids through the spot which has sprung a leak.

Some of these methods are uneconomical and very susceptible to damage because of the large amount of apparatus required, so that one cannot rely with certainty on faultless operation in case of need.

I have now discovered a way to automatically prevent the running off of liquids when closed containers have sprung a leak, while simultaneously indicating that a leak has occurred. The invention is characterized by the fact that a pipe for supplying and removing air is carried from within the top of the liquid container to shortly above the deepest point of a catching vessel, which serves the purpose of catching the leaking liquid and which is situated beneath the container. In this simple way, at very slight expense, an absolutely safe storing of liquids of all kinds, and a safeguard against leaking of liquids from containers which have sprung a leak, can be achieved.

The invention is not only applicable to newly constructed liquid containers, but it can also be applied to liquid containers, for example oil containers, already in use, in the shortest of time and at very little cost.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that in using same the continuous drawing-off of liquid, when required, is not disturbed in any way, and in the fact that no additional equipment is necessary. It is only necessary to see that the space in the container, which is above the liquid, is shut off tight by a suitable arrangement, for example a check valve in the pipe for the drawing-off of the liquid, and also that the filling nozzle is shut vacuum-tight after the container has been filled.

The invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawing, the upright liquid container 1 is mounted in a catching receptacle or trough 2 which has a downwardly sloping bottom surface or else an additional depression, or a depression placed separately in the catching receptacle, where the liquid which may leak out of container 1 can be immediately collected.

Air is supplied to and removed from container 1 by a pipe 3 which is led from inside the top of container 1 to a point just a little above the deepest part of the trough or collecting receptacle 2 as illustrated in the drawing. By this arrangement the air, so long as container 1 is leakproof, can enter and leave the upper part of the container undisturbed during filling as well as emptying of the container. Liquid for consumption is drawn off via conduit 4 which extends down inside container 1 to a point near the bottom thereof, and in which, for example, a vacuum-tight check valve 5 is installed in front of the pump by which the liquid is pumped out of the container. The filling nozzle 6 must be so constructed that it can be fitted with a vacuum-tight closure 7 after the container has been filled.

It, now, the container 1 filled with liquid springs a leak somewhere or other, then the leaking liquid flows first of all onto the bottom of trough 2 and collects in the deepest place, or in the built-in collecting vessel mentioned above. As soon as the surface of the liquid has reached the bottom opening of pipe 3 through which the air enters and leaves container 1, further entry of air is thereby blocked and a vacuum is automatically produced in the upper part of container 1 by a further small seepage of liquid, which is indicated by a negative pressure gauge 8 at the top of container 1 and which always remains at the respective level until the container is finally emptied.

As soon as an equalization has occurred between the vacuum and the pressure of the liquid in the container, the liquid will stop flowing out. The container can, in spite of this and without any more liquid running out, be emptied in the usual way, or liquid can be drawn off for normal consumption. It is surprising that only small quantities of liquid are necessary to prevent further leakage.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combination with a closed container adapted to contain a liquid and having a filling opening at the top, a vacuum-tight closure for said filling opening, and a discharge conduit which extends down inside said container to a point near the bottom thereof, of a receptacle beneath said container adapted to catch any liquid which leaks out of said container, a pipe for the passage of air to and from said container extending from inside the top of said container down to a point just above the deepest part of said receptacle, and suction means connected to said discharge conduit for withdrawing liquid from said container.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in Which said discharge conduit contains a vacuum-tight check valve.

3. The combination according to claim 2, having a negative presusre gauge in communication with the interior of said container at a point above the liquid level in said container.

4. The combination according to claim 2, in which the receptacle beneath said container has a downwardly sloping bottom surface, and in which said pipe for the passage of air extends down to a point just above the deepest part of said sloping botom surface.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 137247.25, 587 

